In today’s digital age, safeguarding your privacy and online activity is crucial. A virtual private network (VPN) serves as a shield against cyber threats, invasive advertisers, and geoblocking restrictions. With cybercriminals becoming more sophisticated and personal data being constantly mined for profit, using a VPN has become a necessity.
While premium VPN services offer the best speeds and features, there are also reliable free options available that provide adequate privacy and security. Despite some limitations, these free VPNs still offer decent speed and essential features.
Proton VPN
- Country of registration: Switzerland
- Cost: Free, or $11 per month; $66 per year for Basic; $118 for two years
- Number of servers & locations: 136 in three countries (free), 6,380 in 112 countries (paid)
- Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Number of simultaneous connections: One with a free subscription
Proton VPN is highly recommended for its strong privacy features even in its free version. With unlimited data, no third-party ads, and no pressure to upgrade, it provides a reliable service. However, there have been reductions in the number of free servers and locations, leading to potential slowdowns due to server congestion.
Despite these limitations, Proton VPN remains a robust privacy-focused service that can be a valuable addition to your online security toolkit.
Windscribe VPN
- Country of registration: Cayman Islands
- Cost: Free, or $9 per month; $69 per year; $1 per location per month
- Number of locations: 10 countries (free), 134 cities in 69 countries (paid)
- Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, FireTV
- Number of simultaneous connections: Unlimited with a free subscription
Windscribe VPN offers respectable speed and access to servers in multiple countries. The free version comes with a data cap but can be extended by sharing your email or engaging with promotions. Subscribing unlocks additional features and unlimited data access.
Hide.Me
- Country of registration: Malaysia
- Cost: Free, or $10 per month; $45 per year; $60 for two years; $120 for three years
- Number of servers & locations: 8 locations (free), 2,600 in 91 countries
- Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and all major platforms
- Number of simultaneous connections: One with a free subscription
Hide.Me now offers unlimited data on its free plan, making it an attractive option for privacy-conscious users. Subscribing unlocks more features and enhanced privacy protections.
PrivadoVPN
- Country of registration: Switzerland
- Cost: Free, or $11 per month; $36 per year; $48 for two years
- Number of servers & locations: 13 servers (free), 66 cities in 49 countries (paid)
- Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, FireTV, iOS, Android
- Number of simultaneous connections: One with a free subscription
- Special features: P2P transfers, SOCKS5 proxy support
PrivadoVPN offers access to servers in multiple countries with a 10GB monthly data cap on its free plan. Subscribing unlocks more server options and features for enhanced privacy.
TunnelBear
- Country of registration: Canada
- Cost: Free, or $10 per month; $60 for the first year; $120 for the first three years
- Number of servers & locations: 5,000 in 47 countries
- Clients supported: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Number of simultaneous connections: One with a free subscription
TunnelBear offers access to a vast network of servers with free users having the same privileges as paid subscribers. While there is a data cap for free users, it can be increased through certain actions. Subscribing removes data restrictions for unlimited access.
